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Name: Tenacious
Comment: It's all about the $$$ AND the color green for them, BOTTOMLIME!
Name: ChocolateBrownGa1
Comment: It sounds like Louis Roederer is completely unaware of the statement made by its managing director Frederic Rouzaud. They did not even acknowledge or refute his statement.
Name: TAZBABY
Comment: Tenacious, I thought the same thing when I read the last two sentences. This guy didn't even address what was said by his Director. They want the Rapper dollar.
Name: Brandon
Comment: I remember when the comments were made last week -- I didn't hear anything racist in them. Maybe Jigga missed that comprehension class, but "curiosity and serenity" do not equal racism. What did Jay-Z expect them to do, say they appreciate the hip hop artists? Hip Hop artists may be doing "more harm than good" from a business perspective. If the wealthy clientele who once drank Cristal (as a status symbol), it's possible they've switched to something else, because Cristal is no longer exclusive - it's mainstream. From a business perspective, we don't really know what's going on. As for the comments -- I didn't interpret them as racist.
Name: missgee
Comment: Why promote alcohol anyway, most listener's of hip hop are teenagers. I don't agree with drugs of any sort and (alcohol is a drug) being promoted to anybody especially anyone under the legal drinking age. And why promote companies that don't invest in our communities or donate to our colleges.
Name: TJthemilitant
Comment: I think the comments were racially tinged..To view hip hop artists buying and promoting their product with curiosity?..Da hell are they curious about?..Why the n*gaas ain't drinking 40's instead?..They just don't want their product associated with a culture that at times promotes violence and degrades women..That's all they really had to say and I could have lived with that!
Name: infofan1960
Comment: MISSGEE is absolutely right. Furthermore, who cares? The same people hollering about that company being racist don't have sense enough to invest their money, start their own companies and stop spending their money on STUPID STUFF from companies that are mostly white owned and that don't give a CRAP about the AFRICAN AMERICAN community. I'm sure Jigga has done these things, but most of the hip hop community does not. Meanwhile, we pass down debt and idiocy to the children, who are only interested in 20's, 22's, fornication with as many h*'s as possible, ice and other garbage that doesn't get us ahead economically, educationally or spiritually.
Name: Grace
Comment: I went to dictionary.com to look up these two words. curiosity - a desire to know about people or things that do not concern one. serenity - a disposition free from stress or emotion. I don't see how these two words were considered racist. Unless, EUR left out some sentences.
Name: Longg1
Comment: >Grace -- Rouzaud was also quoted as saying "What can we do? We can't forbid people from buying it. I'm sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business." He also called the patronage of Cristal by rappers "unwelcome attention."
Name: Harriet
Comment: Oprah has a problem with some of the questionable lyrics spewed by HipHop and I don't hear IceCube or 50Cent or Ludacris calling her racist. Did Jay-Z think that Cristal was going to throw a ticker tape parade because HipHop freely advertises for them in their videos and foolishly fills their coffers? Did Hermes throw a parade when Oprah went to London? Some in the HipHop industry think that money buys them respect and it does not. Some also don't even have a deep enough comprehension of slavery, reconstruction, the antebellum South, Jim Crow and the struggles of the 60s to effectively speak on racism. This IS the HipHop generation which makes movies in which it is spouted that Rosa Parks "didn't really do anything."
Name: RadioDaze
Comment: AMEN, - /// >>>infofan1960 - truth! One Love PanAfrican Worlwide Reparations Now!
Name: DRizzle
Comment: Harriet, have you not been reading your EUR updates? Ice Cube and 50 Cent have been all over Oprah for giving the cold shoulder to hip hop. "Unwelcome attention" is, well, disturbing to me as well. I commend Jay for not promoting or selling it anymore.
Name: Industrypro
Comment: In my opinion, the Cristal's rep statement was not racist. He was just being French....Cristal has been around for decades...long before Puffy and Jayz decided to buy it. Also Jay has some nerve judging anybody, why don't you stop using the word %*$!( in your songs. To me not only is using the word %*$!( racist its also igonorant. Also I got the baddest %*$!( in the game wearing my chain...Jay most women don't like being called the b-word..its an insult.
Name: Harriet
Comment: DRizzle- I know that they have been "all over her" but they haven't inferred that she was racist because she doesn't get down with HipHop. My point was, disliking or being "curious" about HipHop doesn't make one racist.
Name: fuzzygoss
Comment: Blacks always trying to fit in where we don't belong. Cristal, the Kentucky Derby. We should focus on raising the village instead of show-boating all the time. JayZ is nothing but a thug riding BeYawnSay's coat-tail for publicity. MY OPINION.
Name: lovinlife
Comment: TJthemilitant, I agree completely.
Name: lovinlife
Comment: I just want to add that I hope Jay-Z doesn't want Black folk to go out and protest Cristal. LOL. WTF is wrong with him does he really think that French company gives a dayum about him not drinking their champagne??!! Come on, let's (rappers) get up in arms about some important shat. It's the like stinky kid in class who likes to be stinky being mad that no one wants to invite them to parties. The image of rappers is a negative one, whether it's deserved or not, so why would folks want to be associated with it. These dudes need to figure out what they want, street cred or cred with everybody else.
Name: khufu
Comment: okay...Sometimes racism becomes the excuse...the defense when not necessarily justified...did the Cristal rep sa anything that specifically was against Black rappers and hip hop artists? Or did he make a general indictment? See, as stronly Black and AFrocentric, I have some probs with SOME rap/hip hop culture, so I am not too sure I am with Jay on this until I can hear or read the exact comments myself.....
Name: DCGG
Comment: I co-sign industry pro...also who's gonna boycott - hell I doubt if most of us regular folks are drinking Cristal any damn way...
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Everyone know in here if you went to a store and the manager said " We cannot make you stop buying our product, but we would prefer not to have your business, you'll would go off. And dont let them be of any other race. Youll would consider that a racist comment. And go back home and tell everyone not to shop there. This is the same thing. I dont think has anything to do with reputation of hip hop music. Because yu dont see Cadillac and Mercedes Benz saying something crazy because at the end of the day $$$ is money. Hip Hop money spend just like Country music money. I believe dude got a little personal with opinion and now he is in trouble. Regardless of how much or little business this might be for Cristal...no one wants to lose business. That is why the statement came out explaining the embraces of cultures. If they felt the same way that the dude felt, I believe the company being so confidant in their brand and reputation a premier wine, would have back him up.
Name: Vanity
Comment: fuzzygoss~ here in Louisville, KY during Derby time we don't care what color you are as, long as your money is green! I was happy to see more of "US" at the Derby. As far as Cristal....I don't think they care if Jay or any other rapper boycotts their champagne, more free publicity for them.
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Oh and to add to that..this could be a lot of business lost for Cristal because alot of hip hop artists buy it by the cases for their parties. Clubs buy it by the cases for the VIP guests. And if these people that come into club quit buying it, well the club is going to take a loss and in turn quit buying it because of the lack od demand. So that could it be a great loss of business for Cristal. Just like Jay-z took it off his shelves, he probably not the only club owner that did.
Name: whateva
Comment: I some of us are missing the point. Jay should have had a seat on the board of Cristal after the why he increased their overall sales -- not that they were hurting for money. Cristal is not the first company for make millions of dollars off black entertainers then disassociate themselves. The statement was not overtly racist, but we all got the message. Black entertainters should market and promote there own products just like many other ethnic group. I thought that he and Dame were really starting something with the Vodka company they bought.
Name: khufu
Comment: WHATEVE...see, JZ should have had a legitimate ENDORSEMENT DEAL b4 he started promoting the product....that would have been really smart...why does he except exceptance from them? if JZ and other rappers are that business naieve to think then that is their fault...
Name: khufu
Comment: also maybe JZ should say that they are "Culturally elitist" and not racist.....again...if the Cristal rep made a general indictment of Rap and Hip Hop, there are some white folks that fall under and into criticism/indictment
Name: khufu
Comment: hmmmFUZZYGOSS...your statement implies that we have a "specific place" that we belong in...the fner things in life or high culture is for whites folks? Is that you meant? I hope not. There are some of us who like the Kentucky Derby (Africans raced horses, you know) and drinks other than Olde English.....and the desire for the finer things in life have nothing to do with their being associated with white folks...remember, we taugh them civilization.......
Name: golfebj
Comment: Just watch their sales fall. They will not go out of business but watch the sales fall. Community + One Common Goal = Power
Name: lovinlife
Comment: whateva > that's why Jay-Z is a clown cause he's been heavily promoting a product of a company that he now finds racist. It's a little hard to take him serious.
Name: yunvme
Comment: oh please. What percentage of "real" people buy this stuff? They will not be hurting for business, or losing a great deal of money. Just like Hermes wasnt hurting for business after the Oprah thing, Cristal will brush this right off their shoulders. Black people make up like 10% of the population and the percentage of hip hop lovers that buy Cristal is even lower. Dont fool yourselves. Jay Z played himself promoting a product that he had no stake in. Now he wants to play the race card. We have real everyday issues, and Cristal is not one of them.
Name: lovinlife
Comment: By the way when these rappers are name dropping these products in their song it's not to promote sales, they're just showing off. In essence, they're getting pimped cause unless they have a deal with the company they're advertising for free and not seeing a dime of the results.
Name: Harriet
Comment: This is what Black Americans need to recognize from Oprah to Jay-Z to pookeynem standing on the corner and it is also similar to the whole TommyHillfiger myth. Quit thinking that white folks need you just because you have money! When Hermes peeped through that door and saw Oprah and Gail standing outside their door minus five hours of hair and makeup after store hours do you know what they said?: "Fock them niggers!" When that executive with the French champagne company that's over 200 years old saw that rappers were drinking thier formerly elitest champagne, do you know what he said?: "Oh my God! The thugs are drinking our shyt!" As has been said, if Jay-Z wanted to censor what executives think and feel about HipHop he should have acquired some sort of "understanding" before he began rapping about drinking the shyt and holding bottles of it up in his videoes and stocking his club with it. For him to be such an astute busninessman you wouild think that he would have enough sense to know that if you freely promote and advertise for these elitest white folks don't be surprised if they tell you that they no longer and don't even want your Negro money. !
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: No they will not go out of business, but they will lose money. YUNVME- Jayz buying a product that he doesnt have a stake in is not a very good point. Because we have done that and still do it. Black people blew Tommy Hilfiger up to the epitome of fashion. soon as it was rumored he said he didnt mean his clothes to be worn by black people. Some of us cut him off. Basically Cristal is saying the same thing. You have alot of people by Cristals at clubs and VIP events. Sometimes that is the only drink. Every club that caters to hip hop at least got one case of it. So if all them were quit buying it by the case, not the bottle, they will feel it. They wont go out of business, but they will feel it
Name: MOTHERSHIP
Comment: Fuzzygoss, Hov, "thug riding on B's coattail?" As I recollect, Hov was in the game and makin' loot way before B was in existence. He had his music and Roc-a-Wear before B even came into the game. Quite frankly, Hov can afford to buy Cristal's company lock stock and barrel. Hov, why don't ya? And fire all them fuccas!
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: HARRIET - But it is not about having an endorsement deal. All of us being pimped by some manufacturer you wearing if you buy alot of it. If that is the case , all of us are crazy. If you buy alot of Tommy Hilfirger and Ralph Lauren. If you buy, alot of DKNY or Louis Vuitton. Are you not being pimped as well if you support that organization because you like their product alot and people see you with it. You dont haft to be a Jay-Z to be to advertisement and get people business. Alot of us look next door at our neighbors see what they got and then go buy it. All of us are being pimped by brands or some sort. The only thing Jay-Z can negotiate with is a wider influence.
Name: coesmo
Comment: yunvme...well said...I agree 100%
Name: yunvme
Comment: thebaddestchick I said "PROMOTING" not buying.
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Excuse me..then "Promoting"
Name: lovinlife
Comment: thebaddestchick, I understand what you're saying but I honestly don't think Cristal will feel Jay-Z's boycott. It's only been in the last few years that rappers have been hollering about Cristal. Therefore for 195 years that company has been successful from rich, yt folks buying their product. In fact, distancing themselves from hip hop might have been the result of a drop in sales due to the association. THe number of uber wealthy people around the world completely overshadows a few rich rappers.
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Bull %*$!
Name: lovinlife
Comment: thebaddestchick, I was the one who said that they were getting pimped. There's a huge distinction between me wearing a DKNY blouse and Jay-Z, whose sold millions of records rapping about it. It's a simple matter of volume, by his music he reaches millions while there might be one or two people who notice my blouse. So considering that he has that type of audience and influence he's giving them free advertising, and they don't even want his business. This is a case of his bragging/showing off back firing on him. If anything he's probably embarrassed that he was advertising for them.
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Looks like someone may be with out a job this Monday morning
Name: Harriet
Comment: I said nothing about an endorsement deal. What I said was that he should have thought of this before he became a walking billboard for their product. I am not a label whore and am more apt to buy me a bad piece of cloth out of a second-hand store than am I to department store shop and buy some shyt with a label on it. I hate Louis Vitton purses because of all of the logo shyt all over them. When Black folks get to talking boycott it doesn't need to be over some superficial bullshyt like this which only affects .0005 percent of our people.
Name: Harriet
Comment: MOTHERSHIP- What's happening? When are you landing?
Name: khufu
Comment: thebaddestchick apparently doesnt understand how endorsement deals work
Name: khufu
Comment: respectfully, it's amazing how naieve a lot of us still are....Cristal's sales will not be affected by JZ.....i havent crunched any numbers but the majority of the Black flks who buy Cristal are probably not those who listen to, let alone "support," Hip Hop...I could be wrong......does anyone have any demographics on Cristal consumers and/or target market(s)?
Name: DOne
Comment: Like someone said before, I think the statements are more elitist than racist. While some of you might be right in that the company might lose some money in the short-term. However, from a marketing point of view, you have to focus on the long term profits also. A lot of these companies that have historically catered to the very wealthy and elite do not wish to be associated with hip hop, rock, or anything that might alienate their target market. They are thinking that if their product became one that is mostly associated with hip hop, despite the increase sells, what happens when the rappers move on and start to promote the next hot thing? If they lose their target market due to a hip hop image and then the rappers move on to something new, then what are they left with. They see the exposure as possibly hurting their long-term sales. Now that I have said all of that, who really gives a damn one way or the other. If Jay-z want to call for a boycott of something, call for a boycott of the non-snitching code or something else that would have some impact on everyday black folk. When are people going to learn that money does not buy acceptance. And its not just a racist thing either. There are plenty of white people with money who are dissed my old money white people. Hell, let Prince William of England try to marry Bill Gates' daughter, that old Queen would have a fit. She don't give a fVck if he's the richest man in the world.
Name: yunvme
Comment: Now that I really think about it Jay Z should be ashamed of himself. Oprah was smart enough to realize that putting her power behind boycotting Heremes was not a smart thing to do. Hermes does not affect African Americans and their daily struggles. Jay done messed up. He does great charitable work, but this does not affect everyday people. Who wants to hear/see multi millionares complain/boycott something frivilous like champagne? SILLY.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Of course the sales will suffer a drop if hip-hop chose to distance themselves from Cristal. Let's be honest. Of course Cristal has been around for ever. BUT, as w/Hennesey and any other brand...once mainstream mentions you, your sells increase. That's just fact. Doesn't matter what genre of music it is. Hell Brad and Angelina's baby wore some shirt that now they can't make enough of to keep on the shelves. So yes, Cristal has SIGNIFICANTLY beneifted from the free publicity. It may not be race, it may be a class issue...either way, it mos def seems like somebody thinks that certain patrons are beneath them. I say STOP ALL SHAMELESS PLUGS!
Name: khufu
Comment: write on right on DONE...
Name: Harriet
Comment: khufu- I don't have any demographis but I agree that they are not overly concerned about sales because of this.
Name: khufu
Comment: what's truly amazing is how naieve or stupid these rap stars are for endorsing products and brands FREE..Product Placement is worth billions.....whi the fukk is managaing them? who are their agents? I bet..I bet...if JZ is not getting paid for endoring a product his white jewish agent or attorney is....
Name: khufu
Comment: HARRIET they ewill look at JZ and laugh how ridiculous he and his hip hop peers are....
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: The first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby was a brother
Name: khufu
Comment: write on right on YUNUVME
Name: MOTHERSHIP
Comment: Hey, Harriet! I ain't landin' you already on board! CTFU! Whatddup girl? I'm going to send you something in a minute!
Name: ShadowKnows
Comment: Cristal is over 200 years old. They won't be affected by Jay Z's boycott. It's clear they don't want hip hop money, so why would you think that hip hop's sales of Cristal are valuable in the least? I encourage those of you who think Jay Z runs the world to step out of your neighborhood, your city, your state, your country, and realize there's a big wide world out there that has nothing to do with Jay Z and Diddy. They might run your world, but they don't run the rest of the globe. And a 200 year old champagne house will survive without Jay Z and Diddy, trust me.
Name: khufu
Comment: write on right on...SHADOW KNOWS
Name: thechocolate10
Comment: Hey Mothership!! I am glad jay decided to boycott for principal. If you dont stand for something......it may not make a difference but at least he is voicing his opionion(sp)
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Harriet - Nobody aint say nobody being no label hoe. Cause you wear nothing but one type of brand that doesnt make you a label hoe. It means you like this product. Label hoe is someone that will lay down for Gucci, Prada, and LV. That was my opinion and I thought that what this message board was about. Khufu - I know how endorsement deals work. Trust me I know what it means. I didnt say Cristal was going broke without the help of us little old black folk buying it. What I am saying is that Jay-Z has a valid point to me. I took from the comments that if Cristal dude had it in his power to hip hop to quit buying Cristal he would use it with the quicks. And never know he might have meant black people, but since he didnt say that for detail all we can do is assume. Now to me if you still want to drink Cris and you a rap artist, then fine that is your prerogative. Jay-Z decided to take a stand against something he personally believes in and stick to it. Alot of us want even do that. LOVINGLIFE - All that you jsut said aint that deep. Jay-Z he had a sip of Cris, liked it so much that he rapped about, he opened up a club and stocked the shelves. Big deal. Why should he feel stupid for that? He didnt do it with the intentions of influencing the masses. That is just automatic when you are big like Jay-Z and have that type of influence. That is with every artist. Plenty of celebrity women have taken purses on the red carpet and fans go and buy it because of them seeing it on them. And if that celebrity finds out something negative about that company that they dont agree with, they have the right to not buy it anymore. AGAIN THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION!!!
Name: khufu
Comment: LOL the chocolate10 LOL how old are you? PRINCIPLE? Boycott over champagne LOL I would say that is some misplaced values and principles.....
Name: DOne
Comment: If J wants to make a statement, it should be that black folk need to stop trying to impress each other by buying expensive liquor. I know too many people who barely have a pot to pizz in, but they will holla about how they only drink this or that. I think I read somewhere that blks spend more on liquor per capital than any other group in this country, but I don't know anyone who owns stock in any company that markets high price liquor.
Name: yunvme
Comment: Principal? Hmmm perhaps. Is this about principal or is it more about the Hip Hop Dolla- and those who will defend and stand up for the Hip Hop culture at any cost? Lets remove Jay from this equation. Lets say it was Mariah Carey or Diana Ross talking about boycotting Champagne and caviar. Would those who are so vocal in defending Jay also be defending them and their cause?
Name: Harriet
Comment: thebaddestchick- I know that you did not call me a label ho. I only said that to underscore the fact that Jay-Z is. Jay-Z has made a lot of music talking about what he drinks and what he wears- for free! In my humble opinion, that makes him a label ho. Liking the product means that you purchase it. A label ho will purchase it and then market it for free. Your opinion is respected and appreciated and thank you for your response.
Name: khufu
Comment: THEBADESTCHICK--apologies if you do in fact know how strategic marketing: Promotions, Endorsements, etc work...Here is a point to consider: JZ would have more leverage if he has an endorsement deal or some statistics to support his ppsition that Black consumers largely support the product...the way it looks now is rather ridiculous: who asked him or any other hip hop artist/rapper to endorse the product in the first place? He sounds like a naieve, %*$!ed off brother from the hood who wants to take his ball from the park because things didnt go the way he thought they should......
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Say it Harriet say it !!!!! I used to drive nothing but 525i bmw's and then in the mid 90's I started seeing hustlers driving them and thought oh well this car aint so special anymore. I did not stop driving them until 2002 but that was because I needed to establish some credit . In the past I had always just purchased my cars out right. Like you I have never felt the need to wear someone else's name to feel important I don't trip, but if I ran across a nice peice here and there I was not impervious to purchasing it.
Name: Harriet
Comment: DOne- Agreed.
Name: khufu
Comment: the correct spelling is PRINCIPLE..sorry I am anal about this...I see actors..so-called actors misusing the world "Principle" for "Principal" when they indicate "PRINCIPAL ROLES..." and now, someone doing the opposite...PRINCIPLE when dealing with standards and values.....
Name: MOTHERSHIP
Comment: What's the deally Chocolate?
Name: Harriet
Comment: yunvme- If Oprah had declared that she was boycotting Hermes I would have said more power to ya and went on about my business. Jay-Z and Oprah can boycott whomever they wish because an upscale boutique and a champagne company are not relevant to my life.
Name: Teigh
Comment: Until we become investors and not consumers.....most of us are getting pimped by labels and thinking that drinking a kind of champagne that someone raps about gives one the same status. I'm sure the quality of Cristal has gone down and I don't know if I agree with the whole elistist concept. To the demographic that drinks Cristal on a regular that is their drink of choice....unfortunately African americans are marketed malt drinks disquised to look like cocktails and for the most part -- we dive in hook line and sinker!
Name: Harriet
Comment: bigheadbull2- Negroes with money need to get away from flossing PERIOD! It makes us look tacky and unused to having money and that may very well be the case.
Name: khufu
Comment: HARRIET It is relevant as long as yo' azz is charcoal.....
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: ynveme Mariah or Diana would never boycott cocktails they are both known sippers LOL Top to the morning to you sir.
Name: khufu
Comment: HARRIET on your flossing comment...DITTO...you know there are some white folks around them encouraging them to engage in that shyt, dont you?
Name: yunvme
Comment: Good one bigheadbull2. Ok lets say furs and diamonds. LoL.
Name: khufu
Comment: last comment for the morning....the way that JZ can garner some political value from this is to start a "movement" to stop rap/hip hop artists from wearing brands without endorsement deals...so if any of you can access JZ, pass that on to him...organize and empower
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Shadow...what does the length of time a product being out have to do w/it's sales? I just wish that sometimes we can just read and understand as opposed to giving views based on the lack of.... No one thinks that Cristal is "going out of business" that's ridiculous. Not sure who thinks that Jay-Z runs the world. Sean is one person. However, hip-hop is an entity not just for black people. If HIP HOP..not Sean Carter chose to follow Jay's lead, yes they will suffer. It may just go back to its pre-hip-hop sales but they will suffer. Regardless of which side of this argument u fall on, what I find "interesting" is we talk all the time about how hip-hop influences (good and bad) culture. We look at data that shows its influence. Now, we have no influence at all. That's just...interesting.
Name: ShadowKnows
Comment: Oh, and if Jay feels that he was offended or insulted by the comments, and wants to take a stand, I support that. We should all stand up for what we believe in. I'm not for or against his boycott. I'm only saying that Cristal won't care and that the hip hop community doesn't drive their sales. Separately, does any one else think it's interesting that Jay is the only one speaking up?
Name: whateva
Comment: Thank you musbdherbs
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Harriett for those that floss I agree. In my case I have always been accustomed to nice things. I am 44 and have never had a glass of kool-aid . Not that I'm too good for it. It was never consumed in my home. Sometimes it's just what you have become accustomed to. But I would never go around promoting anything for anyone unless they paid me and I believed in the product. Simple as that.
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: ynvme Now you steppin on my toes brother LOL. Ima getcha
Name: khufu
Comment: I like Sake and Japanese Plum WIne...i guess I am no longer "ghetto fab" huh? LOL
Name: MSHELICIA
Comment: i'm cool with jay for standing up for something that he believes in, but he shouldn't make it into this big issue when there are bigger problems that need fixing in the world than this. stop selling cristal and move on.
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Just to be real...Alot of what gets talked up in songs is the fact "we" can afford these material things now that we couldnt before. It is a measure of success. So you rap about it in a song. If the masses catch on to it then there go up the sales of that particular brand. Like I said before Cristal is not goin g to go broke because of this boycott. I commend JZ for standing up for what he believes in. I am not ging to judge him by that. Alot of us believe in alot of stuff that we dont stand up for but got an opinion about it. Though when it comes down to put up or shut up. Everybody get quiet. Personally I think they are going to lose money. All clubs that order CRIS for their hip hop clientele, if it is sittin gon their shelves and not moving they are not ging to buy it anymore. Special events and parties with not only hip hop artists, but pro team players will suffer as well. I mean it could stretch because if the demand is not there at clubs, parties, restaurants, hotels, where there business does depend on hip hop or related people then business with go down somewhat.
Name: khufu
Comment: Now I know white folks can be raicst and suffer from culturally supremacist complex...however, does anyone know that history of France in terms of politcal revolutionary ideology? France has been one of the strongest sources of revolutionary ideology...I wonder oof JZ knows that? However, I know equallly that France was a particpant in Africa's colonization...my point is this: AGAIN the comments may have been culturally snobbish and not racist.....remember French folks dont really like American culture.....
Name: khufu
Comment: Standing up is cool but consider that his credibility would have been more solid and powerful IF HE HAD AN ENDORSEMENT DEAL IN THE FIRST PLACE....folks are just going to say: "Why was the fool promoting the product in the first place.....?" True, he may have helped the product create a market where there was none before but who asked him?
Name: Harriet
Comment: bigheadbull2- I wasn't trying to imply that you personally floss and forgive me if that is what you interpreted. But I think that for the most part we agree that even broke Black people are into "flossing." I know people who don't even have a car who have big screen televisions in thier APARTMENTS and 400dollar video game systems. Flossing is not only for the rich and it isn't exclusive to HipHop, however, flossing is a big part of HipHop music. A lot of hiphop does nothing but talk about flossing-type shyt. What sort of rims they're rolling on or how many diamonds are on the face of their watches or where they vacationed.
Name: thechocolate10
Comment: HEY Shadow> i am blocked at work tell the fam what's up!!!
Name: thechocolate10
Comment: OK it is monday morning and i partied all weekend oh well heck i spelled principle wrong also spelled opionion wrong too on the star board. So what-- i can spell right when the time is right. its not that deep. I actually only care what a few of you think because most of you take this board way too serious anyway. i read it for fun and to past time at work
Name: chocdiva
Comment: For those that think Cristal's sales will not be affected, I have one thing to say. Compare the sales price of a bottle of Cristal back in the late 90's to the price today. A definite increase in their price point which means more revenue to them. Who can we thank? Young black and brown people. You say that hip hop is not one of the reasons why their prices have skyrocketed and their volume is where it's at. Think again. Where else can you find a $500 bottle of Cris in the grimiest of clubs?? Hmmmm. Let's think. The same thing is happening to Patron. What Jay has come forth and said may not "shut it down", but I await to see what their revenue looks like Post-Hova. I hope BET and other media outlets will report on this. We complain about everything. We complain that we drink "%*$!" and we complain when someone says not to drink it. We are our own worst enemies, I swear.
Name: ShadowKnows
Comment: Mus, I typed a long response but then it froze. The length of time a company has been in business (200 years) has EVERYTHING to do with sales. They're a high end luxury brand that has been successful for a long, long time. That means they have generation after generation after generation of customers. Somehow, someway, they managed to continue providing a high-end luxury product to royalty and the wealthy all over the world. Some of the royalty are well-known (like the current royal family in the UK) and some are not so well-known (like the princes in Saudi Arabia or the royal families in Asian and African countries.) Then there are the wealthy around the world. We don't know who all of them are. But somehow, in your world, you think that recent hip hop artists are making a substantial contribution to Cristal's bottom line because they talk about the beverage in their songs. Ol' boy at the champagne house said that they don't need or want money from hip hop. If someone says to you, "Hey Mus, we don't need or want your money so stop buying our product," do you really think your purchases of their product really impact their bottom line? It's a blip, and clearly, a blip they don't want.
Name: khufu
Comment: CHOCDIVA there is something called effective poltical theory ....to critique JZ based on this is not a bad thing...POLITICALLY JZ would have been more effective if he would had some historical and political analsysi before he started promoting Cristal FREE in his videos and lyrics....part of the problem is that most of the rappers dont have any REAL political consciousness or else they would be evident in their image/material; their business practices and their life styles......see, JZ should have said (and I am using JZ as metahphor and symbol for all the rap.hip hop artist)IN THE BEGINNING OF HIS CAREER: "Let me consider the cultural, political and economic impact of everything I do BEFORE I DO IT..." Had he done some analysis, he would not have just FRELY endorsed products for the sake of FLOSSING but for the sake of political and economic gain......FORETHOUGHT is a powerful tool made moreso by analysis.......
Name: khufu
Comment: SHADOWKNOWS write on...the comments indicate that Cristal is more amused at the occurence than anything......WE STILL LOOK FOR ACCEPTANCE FROM WHITE FOLKS AND WE DONT EVEN REALIZE IT...JZ is insignificant to the company...now, they might be concerned with the PR value of JZ's remarks as they dont want to be deemed racist......and they (Cristal) may respond in regards to that..but as for sales decrease? Nah...I dont think so....
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Shadow..in this case it does not. No one is arguing how long they've been around nor which royal family drinks it. The whole argument is how the sales have increased due to the free pub that hip-hop artists give the brand. You have mom/pop stores which have been around forever but that doesn't mean that they're ubersuccessful. Is Cristal an exclusive brand? Of course it is BUT it would not have found its way into the usual stock of each and every club, party, promo etc, video...had it NOT been for hip-hop. All of which = increased sales. This is the world I c...not the one I imagine. More publicity = more money. That's grade school..come on stop playin. The fact is that they prob are not concerned at all because making hoards of money in this way may not interest them. But any business owner will tell you that any "blip" on the profit/loss screen is considered a problem.
Name: khufu
Comment: AGAIN I ASK THE QUESTION THAT BEGS FOR AN ANSWER: WHO IS ADVISING THIS RAPPERS ON THEIR BUSINESS AFFAIRS? WHO DO THEY ACTUALLY LISTEN TO?
Name: khufu
Comment: "These" MUSBDHERBS..valid point...is there anyone out there who can actually access info on Cristal sales and how much Black folks actually buy?
Name: yunvme
Comment: they listen to their white slave masters (record execs, lawyers, etc) who encourage them to make these types of songs and videos promoting these products- THEN they turn around and invest their money purchasing stocks in these companies. So in the end they (the rich white execs) make money off these lost souls 2 ways- record sales and stock options in those companies.
Name: PHScott
Comment: BOY-COTT! BOY-COTT! BOY-COTT! I WANT you all to stop buying and drinking Cristal... PLEASE!!! I get my Moet for $15 a bottle and my Dom for $50 a bottle. Once all you wanna-bes stop buying it, the quality of the product will rise to the level we real champagne drinkers expect, and the price will return to the customary level of affordability and there will be more of it available. So... all you sheep following the trend to drink it can now follow the trend to NOT drink it, making me happy. I'd love nothing more that to be able to buy Cristal at $125-$150 a bottle again, then I can get it for about $75 a bottle. BOYCOTT!!!
Name: Renetta
Comment: I think Jaz-Z is overreacting on this one. I got a lot of other issues he can boycott if he really wants to make a difference. I wish more rappers would be more politically conscious and the way the Chuck D's were. It seems all the present day rappers are interested in is sipping jin-n-juice, getting a piece of azz and wearing jewely like a woman.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: Khufu..I've already tried can't find nething. Also, as I stated b4 I'm not talking about "black" I'm talking about the hip-hop empire which is something that crosses racial lines. I won't even get into the whole advertising issue because people have been giving free pubs to any and everything for as long as I can remember. It doesn't matter if its Marley talking about Jamaica or Nancy Wilson singing about the "Lush Life in Paris"....it just happens. Even if it is a matter of artists reevaluating who/what they give free pub too and at what cost...this will be the best thing this frenchmen could've done for "black" folk.
Name: khufu
Comment: LOL PHSCOTT so are you getting paid for those endorsements of Moet and Dom? LOL
Name: PHScott
Comment: Who is the idiot still asking for "worldwide reparations"? What planet do you live on? White folks are STILL attacking people of color (Iraqis, Iranians, etc.) and telling you they are terrorists so you'll fear them. The world is NOT going to GIVE us anything!!! We are going to have to TAKE it... Quit holding your hand out waiting for something that ain't coming and put that hand to WORK!!!
Name: khufu
Comment: MUSBDHERBS respectfully that's different though...see IF Jamaica decided to use any of Marley's songs for promotional campaigns, they would have to pay.....same for Nancy Wislon's version of LUSH LIFE In PAris......besides, that's about PLACES and the songs dont necessarily directly promotoe or endorse the places/countries as product nor do they necessarily say: "Spend time in Jamaica" or "Paris"....JZ's case is different.....he (they) extols and promotes the product...in material and usage in videos...they actually endorse consumption of the product as well as directly positively promote/enhance the product's image
Name: Reds
Comment: The more I follow and learn more about this incident, the more my skepticism increases. first of all, it was the writer of the article, and not Rouzaud, who used the phrase "unwelcome attention." http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=225470> 1=7702. But guess what, Jay-Z actually have the opposite opinion. Jay: "It has come to my attention that the managing director of Cristal, Frederic Rouzaud views the `hip-hop' culture as 'unwelcome attention." Now lets move on to Rouzaud's comments. It is said that Rouzaud expressed ambivalent feelings about Cristal’s heavy use and promotion by hip hop artists, and stated he viewed the champagne’s popularity among rappers with "curiosity and serenity." Now I'm not an English major, but the term "curiosity and serenity" doesn't seem to necessarily express racist attitudes. But at the same time, being not privy to the full interview, I can't comment on the reason for the use of the word "ambivalent" by the writer of the article. What else did Rouzaud said? Inquiring minds want to know.
Name: PHScott
Comment: Nah khufu, I'm just happy I can drink what I like and get it wholesale LOL. I used those to make the point about where Cristal has gone because of Tupac and the rest of hip-hop. My wife and I used to drink Cris on the regular, then it became harder to find than Osama bin Laden, then the price went out of our range. When we finally got hold of a bottle, it tasted terrible! I knew the answer was they give us the low end of their stock quality and charge us as if it were the best on the market. This is all the fault of hip-hop and I'll be glad when the Cristal run on us is over.
Name: khufu
Comment: again SOMEONE if not JZ needs to educate these rappers about not endorsing brands without up front deals....and then someone needs to teach them how and where to invest their monies
Name: Harriet
Comment: I have never had a drop of Cristal in my life and perhaps I never will. I don't even drink champagne unless I am celebrating something and when I am, I am going to go and buy the cheapest bottle l can find, because the only thing I want it for is celebration. When I want to get well-oiled I drink brandy or whiskey. How many of us knows anyone who drinks champagne daily whether the cost of the bottle be 3.99 or 150dollars? I would just hate to see the collective power of HipHop used to boycott something as frivolous as this.
Name: PHScott
Comment: Oh yeah, a large bottom line and expanded sales will create "serenity" in a person. Free advertising on television, radio AND print will definitely create "curiosity".
Name: khufu
Comment: LOL PHSCOTT are you implying that there are two Cristals? One for US and another for THEM? LOL They I wouldnt doubt it
Name: timmdogg
Comment: I find it really redundant that Jaz-Z would devote so much time and energy on this topic? He should devote time to cleaning up his lyrics while promoting ignorance when degrading our sisters in his songs. Furthermore, hip hop artist are so quick to call someone or business establishment racist when in fact it's their lyrics in their songs that are doing the most damage in the black community. We as black people need to stand on our own and quit looking up to these artist as "roll models"....people it starts at home! Nuff said!!!!!
Name: Harriet
Comment: khufu- That is an excellent point you raise. Jay-Z is considered an up and coming business man representative of the future, yet he endorses products for free. Russel Simmons is considered a stalwart in the business company yet he takes a Black built and owned business and sells it out. Sean Combs is considered a business maven yet he cries and whines about paying his child support. I am with you. Who is doing the advising?
Name: khufu
Comment: HARRIET Again the excellent point is rasied..this shhet is frivlous....if Rapers actually do unite over cristal you know they are crazy! Again folks look and say: "They dont have sheet else they can be focusing on?"
Name: khufu
Comment: HARRIET Ashenazim
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Harriet Nothing to forgive my sister I am in total agreement with you.
Name: khufu
Comment: that's it Im gone TIMMDOGG has summed it all up...nothing else needs to be said..Peace
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Chocolate10 true ...so sad but true
Name: khufu
Comment: HARRIET Again the excellent point is raised..this sheet is frivolous....if Rappers actually do unite over cristal you know they are crazy! Again folks look at "US"/them and say: "They dont have sheet else they can be focusing on?"
Name: khufu
Comment: im out but FYI in case youve never heard of this: http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/przion1.htm
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: One thing about it endorsing everythign you use can be very cumbersome. I mean celebrities wear alot of stuff and are free advertising because it is what they like. Jessica Simpson wore this very unique purse to an awards show. she purchased it from a very unique shop. Fans googled the purse and the shop's business tripled. Now they give her a bag for every award show now, because she see how valuable she is to there business. See that was not her intent, but they are scratching each other's back. There is no endorsement deal with Cris because they never asked for the attention so they didnt want to create more. So even when JZ was rapping about it and spending money on it..Cris was benefiting from something they didnt want in the first place. They dont want us to buy the product but they will happilly take your money.
Name: PHScott
Comment: Hello, Harriet. You know one now- ME!!! My wife's drink of choice is champagne, and our regular purchases amount to an average of a bottle a day. We get Cook's Grand Reserve for $4-$5 a bottle. We'll get the occasional bottle of Moet (1-2 per month average) for a treat, then get the Dom for special occasions like birthdays, Mother's Day, our anniversary and the Xmas holidays. I am a cognac man myself (it goes great with my cigars when I unwind from business stress), but I only do that 2-3 times a week. Finally, hip-hop should use its influence wherever it is helpful. This is a life-lesson: Never limit your power when you can wield it because doing so increases your power.
Name: beegirl
Comment: I haven't read all of the posts yet, but I see what everyone is saying so far. My views on this matter tend to coincide with thebaddestchick's, though I agree with Khufu that this is probably more of a class issue than a race issue. The initial company director's statement of "what can we do? We can't forbid people from buying it" was shady to me, and after all the business Jay-Z threw behind the company, he probably felt like it was a slap in the face. I see that as a legitimate reason to stand up for something you believe in. And I will never knock a black person for standing up for a cause they believe in, even if I don't fully support it, because so few of us actually do (lots of talking, not enough walking, in my opinion). I mean, come on. We've all been treated rudely in a store and vowed never to shop there again and told our friends not to either. None of us wants to feel as if our hard-earned money isn't good enough. What's wrong with standing up against that?
Name: YLawdY
Comment: ShadowKnows ...Maybe JZ is the only one speaking up cause he's the only one that reads the newspaper. "Hey Luke, did you see what the Cristal rep had to say?" LOL
Name: yunvme
Comment: when you say they dont want "US" to buy their product are you referring to hard working black folks who can afford it or thug rappers who can afford it?
Name: YLawdY
Comment: PHScott ...a bottle a day?
Name: thechocolate10
Comment: BHB2> aint it though
Name: dakoolestkat
Comment: LOL@PHScott..."harder to find than Osama". Man somebody just pass me some OJ..let's make a mimosa and call it a day. CHEERS!
Name: YLawdY
Comment: I've read a lot of the posts and agree with parts of quite a few. You should stand up for what you believe in and JZ speaking out against Cristal will have as much impact as JZ rapping about Cristal. You can call it racist or elitist, but either way it was uncomplimentary. As far as free advertising, I think it's natural to share with our family and friends info about brands we like.. celebrities just have a wider circle that sees their likes and dislikes. I'm PO with Rite-Aids over the counter drug policy and have told family and friends why. Look at us as JZ's family and friends. LOL I for one won't be going to the salon for anymore Cristal pedicures.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: lol..Khufu..I agree. I was speaking to the idea of advertising a product/place w/no expectation of generating revenue from it. It seemed as if people were acting as if...this never happens when it always has. But you're right. I just hate that now people are beginning to question the man's business acument just because of this when he has done so much more. Yes his lyrics are questionable BUT we party to his music. Even Oprah has made bad decisions...(James Frey...Makes me want to not eat beef) Harriet...believe me...u would really...really..really..have to be a champaine drinker from the start in order to appreciate it. I'm not, so it tastes like nothing but wet air when I 1st had it 10 years ago...and it tastes the same way now. Actually I have an idea, for all the people who want Sean to focus on other "significant" things, why don't u stop partying to his music. Let's be a responsible consumer.
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: acumen
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: damn..champagne
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: dammit...champange
Name: musbdherbs
Comment: i give up...i'm going to lunch
Name: yunvme
Comment: what u been doing this mornin'. LoL.
Name: DoctorSmooth
Comment: I cant believe some of you dont see how the comments are racist. Did you not read where the company representative said "What can we do? We can't forbid people from buying it. I'm sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business." Think about it: why would he even say say "we cant stop people from buying it" ? The implication from that statement is that they kinda WISH they could, but they CANT forbid it, so they'll just "put up" with these negroes buying their product. The racist implications of the remark are not hard to see. Open your eyes ,my black people. Racism is just more subtle now than it used to be. Sometimes its kind of hard to detect it, but in this case, its not hard at all. I dont even drink anyway, but still I think this boycott is a good thing. Send a message to all those who continue to disrespect black people, wherever they may be.
Name: Harriet
Comment: musbdherbs- I am in the rural dirty south and we don't do a lot of champagne anyway. Down here, whiskey, beer, blues music and shade trees are preferred!:)
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Genocide in Simolia, child abuse and rape, black on black crime, gaining better educational tools for our young, these are worthy causes. Crystalgate well this is just bull %*$!
Name: Harriet
Comment: DoctorSmooth- I simply don't see them as racist- discriminatory- but not racist.
Name: PHScott
Comment: YlawdY, you must realize that a bottle of champagne is not a whole lot of liquid or alcohol. A bottle of champagne is 750ml and 11.5% alcohol. A bottle of beer is 355ml (2 beers = 710ml) and the alcohol content is about the same. Wine is 13.5% alcohol. Malibu Rum is 21% alcohol and when mixed with pineapple juice it equals slightly more in alcohol content (15-16%) than champagne. By comparison, a bottle of champagne is not a lot of alcohol consumption- it's about equal to 3 beers. Back in my younger days I could put away a 6-pack no problem...
Name: PHScott
Comment: Where the hell is Simolia? LOL, I know, you meant Somalia. Bull, ya gots ta be realistic. Genocide in Africa is a little beyond the scope and reach of Hip-hop AT THIS TIME. If you want hip-hop to affect SOCIAL change, make another group like Public Enemy a top seller and it will happen. As long as we are buying misogyny, shooting, robbing, bling, and high-siding, that is what hip-hop will produce.
Name: yunvme
Comment: why in the hell would you expect rappers to be against Genocide in other countries- when the vast majority of these rappers contribute to genocide on such a large scale here in America.
Name: YLawdY
Comment: PHScott ...thank you for the education. I'm not much of a drinker, but I do enjoy my Cristal "bubble" baths. CTFU
Name: YLawdY
Comment: Why do we expect hip hop to effect social change? Are those types of expectations placed on other music forms? Opera? Classical? How bout country? Does Travis Tritt inspire you to go put your truck up on blocks and buy a rusted double wide trailer?
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Why do we hold hip hop and other african american celebrities to such a high standard in the african american community? Just because they have money and influence, dont mean they have changed for the better or positively wants to use it to make change.
Name: ShadowKnows
Comment: There's definitely an "-ism" going on, I just don't think it's racism. Elitism, classism, yes. But he's not saying he doesn't want black people consuming his beverage. He is distancing himself from hip hop. I'm black, and I sometimes distance myself from hip hop too. I can't get with the thuggin', grillz and degradation of women, so I keep certain portions of hip hop at a distance. Does that make me racist? Musbdherb, who I was debating with today, even pointed out that hip hop goes beyond black people. If hip hop is pop culture, then let's recognize it for what it is. In addition to elitism and classism, there might even be some reverse age-ism (not sure how to spell that) going on. When it comes to racism, if we're going to cry wolf, let's make sure there's really a wolf in the vicinity.
Name: thechocolate10
Comment: harriet> i havent heard shade tree since college i had a friend from the south LOL
Name: stscott
Comment: JayZ is a tolerant man himself considering the lyrics of some of his songs...for HIM to say the Champagne company were out of line says something! Blacks need to align their desires to the dollars in their own pockets. What sense does it make dreaming about Chris? Why not SUPPORT your OWN brands? Wake up? Hey JayZ! @hy not start YOUR OWN company with Chris for YOUR OWN people???!!! Hello! is ANYBODY LISTENING (reading)?
Name: jumpman
Comment: Question....will it be the company Cristal who loses, or the clubs that sell it? Wholesale, a bottle may cost 100-125 dollars, but at the clubs, they're charging 300-600 per bottle. I don't think Cristal has changed their pricing as much as clubs have gotten hip to the demand from hip hop and marked up their prices even more. So if they boycott, I believe clubs will feel the heat; mainly those upscale clubs that cater to celebs.
Name: Harriet
Comment: YLawdY- You asked why we expect HIPHOP to effect social change. It used to- all musical forms have been social at one point or another. I remember Curtis Mayfield emphatically stating that "this is my country" and I also recall Marvin Gaye talking about "fish full of Mercury." I remember Latifah singing about UNITY and I recall Public Enemy telling us to "fight the power." We have always had a "message in our music." I do not think it absurd to expect social awareness from our artists.
Name: yunvme
Comment: good point.
Name: Harriet
Comment: thechocolate10- What can I say?- I'm country.
Name: Harriet
Comment: thebaddestchick- Because to whom much is given much is required.
Name: YLawdY
Comment: Harriet ...other musical forms may have been social at one point or another as you state. My question still stands. Two points: 1) talking about something is only one step in the progression for change and while I love all of the songs you referenced, they didn't exactly EFFECT SOCIAL CHANGE. 2) I agree it's not absurd to expect social awareness, but who's society? Mine, yours, theirs? Their reality may not be yours, but it's just as real to them. Which is a circuitous route back to Why do we expect hip hop to effect social change?
Name: Harriet
Comment: YLawdY- I don't think that anyone here today has argued that HIPHOP artists should affect social change. However, if an artists is talking about rallying the people and uniting them for a cause it needs to be something more socially relevant than sipping Cristal champagne, in my humble opinion.
Name: Angel
Comment: Khufu and Musb - Good champagne is not something you can throw together overnight, so the excessive demand for Cristal may not totally be a good thing for the company. If the supply of the good stuff runs out, they have "off years" they can distribute. They would never distribute the "off years" to their base market (the elite) because the product was built on its quality, so I'm sure that the clubs are getting the sh*tty stuff, because Cristal knows that most of the people don't know the difference. Not every price increase is done because it's selling like hotcakes and they want to maximize profits. In some cases, an increase in price can be used to slow down demand, especially when it is a product that's known for its quality. Musb, not everybody is out for the quick dollar, but look at the long term affects. Yeah, hiphop "royalty" buying up their stock is making them a lot of money, but it is now putting pressure on them to produce more in a shorter amount of time, which reduces quality. At the end of the day, they need to keep their base happy (the elite), because when hip hop moves on to the next product, they don't want to be in the position where they compromised the quality and their base no longer drinks it.
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: PHscott get a life and leave me out of it please don't try to get deep and spooky with me cause you are out of your element spelling error aside now be gone
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Still don't make it right I have been working globally and locally for a long time and trust me when I say I don't need your imput. Find another hobby
Name: YLawdY
Comment: This is what I read. Was there more that I didnt' see because I don't see Jay Z calling for a boycott. "It has come to my attention that the managing director of Cristal, Frederic Rouzaud views the 'hip-hop' culture as "unwelcome attention." I view his comments as racist and will no longer support any of his products through any of my various brands including The 40/40 Club nor in my personal life," said Jay-Z.
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Harriet that's all it was for me too I said nothing about hip hop artist taking up these causes I mentioned I just say to me these were worthy causes, not a bottle of cristol and then phsomething or other wanted to come for me. But what can one expect from someone who professed to drink everyday LOL
Name: beegirl
Comment: To all the people saying that there are other, more worthy causes for Jay Z to get behind: Jay Z never said that this would be his main cause or his reason for living. This is just one of the many things he is getting behind right now. How do you know he doesn't support those other issues that you mentioned? We don't know what Jay Z does all day every day, so I don't think it's fair to assume that this is the biggest issue in his world. We can't choose what is important to people, so if you don't think it's big, keep it moving, but you can't tell Jay that he shouldn't care when he does.
Name: khufu
Comment: It's official..THEBADDESTCHICK doesnt really understand how endorsements and product placement works....LOL
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: BeeGirl - We are definitely on the same street. Everything someone does isnt publicized. and if it was we would find a reason to say "why everything they do for charity in the news. It is supposed to be for charity not publicity"
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Khufu - Why do you say that?
Name: khufu
Comment: Poweful azz statement here! write on right on!!! Name: yunvme Comment: why in the hell would you expect rappers to be against Genocide in other countries- when the vast majority of these rappers contribute to genocide on such a large scale here in America.
Name: khufu
Comment: ANGEL right on to the informative statement regarding demand and quality!! MUSBDHERBDS...LOL you must have had a lil too much Cristal this morning! LOL
Name: khufu
Comment: HARRIET Your humble opininon is powerfully acurate
Name: khufu
Comment: THEBADESTCHICK..because of this post............................. thebaddestchick Comment: One thing about it endorsing everythign you use can be very cumbersome. I mean celebrities wear alot of stuff and are free advertising because it is what they like. Jessica Simpson wore this very unique purse to an awards show.
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: I said that because celebrities are not thinking endorsement everytime they put on something or wear something. IF Im a celebrity and I like these particular shoes and wear them alot does that mean I need to think about contacting the company for a deal. Can I not just like them and go on about my business. I know it is money to get..but dang everything isnt about the almighty dollar. Can I jsut purchase my favorite gum, favorites shoes, favorite weave, or my favorite drawers and just go on about my business without thinking "Man , I love Hanes her Way, maybe I should endorse them. Again that is my opinion. Agree with it or dont agree with it.
Name: khufu
Comment: THEBADDESTCHICK.....but if you were a celeb--you should think that way!! ESPECIALLY if youre going to PLACE PRODUCTS in your videos and "sing" or rap or write about them...if you were an artist and you didnt think that way RESPECTFULLY youd be just as naieve and dumb as those like most of the Hip Hop artists who dont totally understand "the game"......there are billions tied into PRODUCT PLACEMENT
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: But how if they dont want my endorsement...I might not hit their target market or they might not want to advertise to my target market ..do I stop wearing them because they refused me????
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Just because maybe 50 Cent likes to chew on Dentyne and even said he never goes anywhere without any..that doesnt mean he should endorse them or they want him to endorse them.
Name: Victornator
Comment: Luxury goods have high income elasticity of demand: as people become more wealthy, they will buy more and more of the luxury good. Hermes bags are the perfect example of a luxury good. Most of Oprah and her celebrity friends (or their wives) own several of the $8,000 leather bags or the $22,000 croc/alligator bags. There is at least a 3 year waiting list to get one. Those rich people could give less than a damn about Oprah's boycott.
Name: yasmine1
Comment: this sounds like a Tommy Hilfiger to me...what they said WAS racist and I agree with Jay to boycott them...until they give a formal proper apology... look at how the gay rights group boycotted some raggae artist on lyrics that were made way in the past... as they say... money talks and BS walks
Name: khufu
Comment: THEBADDESTCHICK...you could wear the product and consume the product but not in your videos or at any event wear you will be exposing their brand to mass numbers of people.....you sell that space to them...
Name: Harriet
Comment: Webster defines racism as the "practive of racial discrimination, segregation." They made a discriminatory STATEMENT- a statement is not a practice. I just think that we need to be very cautious when accusing a corporation or a single person of being a "racist." The seriousness of the matter has already been diminished by the contention that too many Black people "pull the race card." The best way to sock it back to those in that bracket whom you believe to have wronged you is in the pocket- not with an accusation of racism.
Name: Angel
Comment: thebaddestchick - The majority of stuff you see celebrities wearing has been given to them. Big time celebs don't pay for shat. That is what is so ridiculous about folks trying to keep up with celebrities. Folks going broke trying to buy shat celebrities get for free.
Name: Harriet
Comment: Pardon me- that should have been "practice."
Name: Gemami
Comment: Wow, the comments are all over the place... Here's my .02 cents, Although I do not believe Rouzaud’s comments are apparently racist they are very elitist… and I'm glad Jay-Z is taking Cristal off his club shelves. In the whole scheme of things this may not be “a big deal” however to a businessman and artist like Jay-Z, the comments made by Rouzaud is a direct slight. Will this hurt business -- I doubt it -- but Jay-Z "boycott" is enough for someone else in Cristal to play damage control. Jay-Z is sending a message that the Black dollar is just as important and should be respected as the “3-5% customers” Cristal is marketed towards. Here's a link to The Economist article www.economist.come/intelligentlife/luxury/displayStory .cfm?story_id=6905921
Name: cookie30
Comment: They should not have been wasting their dizam money on Cristal any mofo way. Do you know how many scholarships they could setup drinking on Cristal, but of course I can't spend nobody else's money. As far as the comments go, I agree with Jay-Z. I would not buy their product if they don't want the exposure. That's if I had $300 dollars to literally flush down the toilet. They said the attention was unwanted, don't give it to them. Its that simple, but don't hold your breath because many sistas and brothas still sporting Tommy Hillfiger like it mean something, when he basically outright said he doesnt make his stuff for blacks. Wowzers! I won't hold my breath for common sense to prevail.
Name: khufu
Comment: general common sense in the Black community died in the 1980s with the intro and mass distribution of crack
Name: PRDC
Comment: They will oose business...Thanks to Jay-Z especially since he was one of the rappers that mentioned it in his rap song....whenver black boycott something ... they will loose out...good now promote something that positive for a change.
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Khufu - I understand what youre saying..I definitely have learned alot about endorsements from you today. LOL
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: To me this could be taken as a racist comment. Regardless it is still insulting. When asked if hip hop was negative on the brand..he avoided the question, but you know what he meant. In fact, the attitude of the house of Roederer to the unexpected popularity of Cristal among rappers is considerably more circumspect. Frédéric Rouzaud, who took over from his father as managing-director of the winery in January, says that Roederer has observed its association with rap with “curiosity and serenity”. But he does not seem entirely serene. Asked if an association between Cristal and the bling lifestyle could actually hurt the brand, he replies: “That’s a good question, but what can we do? We can’t forbid people from buying it. I’m sure Dom Pérignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business.”
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Above is a quote out of the article. Start at "In Fact"
Name: Angel
Comment: Gemami - Thanks for the link. After reading the article and putting the comments in context, it seems like Cristal makes its champagne for connoiseurs. The owner stated “We make our champagne for that 3-5% of consumers who really know wine, and who take the time to taste it correctly.” When you have Jay-Z lyrics that say "We drink Cristal and get pizzy pizzy" and you see Cristal being poured over scantily clad women, I can see how the owner of Cristal would be horrified. To Cristal, it's the equivalent of buying the Mona Lisa to hang in your garage....just disrespectful to the creator's vision.
Name: ronnieb
Comment: "curiosity and serenity" is old money doublespeak for snobbish resignation...meaning: we can't stop Black folk from associating themselves with our product, so we might as well take their money.
Name: Harriet
Comment: Angel- HAH!!!!!!! Cristal being poured over scantily clad women! I am sure that they were horrified. I know that I am.
Name: Angel
Comment: Thebaddestchick - I stole don't get how that is racist seeing that there is a very negative side to Hip Hop at the moment. It would have been one thing if the popularity of Cristal was due to it's purchase by elite blacks in general and he made the same comment. But you have to admit, there are clear reasons why someone would not want their brand associated with hiphop. Cristal was meant for the discriminating palate, not to be poured over breasteses in a video. LOL
Name: Angel
Comment: oops "stole" should be "still"
Name: caramelpoetry
Comment: I agree with Doctor Smooth, stop buying it. Change to another drink, Chris is not the be all to end all anyway. Maybe we should switch to Tanquery.(spelling) They have that fine brother in that commercial anyway with that nappy hair and British accent. At least they chose to use a black man in their commercial. All this stuff that blacks are buying, they should always use blacks in their commercials. I saw a jaguar commercial this morning, they had a black person in the commercial which flashed up on the screen real quick but at least they had one. So I say go ahead JZ and boycott and ask your buddies to support you on this one, whether Christal looses money or not --just do it. It can't hurt you, or nothing.......... Every time and any time they disrespect us, we should make an issue and boycott, let everyone know what they said an did. Blacks spend a lot of money on a lot of stuff!!!!! Do the daym thing J.
Name: Victornator
Comment: Damn, you mean that I will not longer go to the club and see brothas and sistah's "roped" off in a section of the club holding a bottle of Cristal like it was a Ph.D. Will these sistah's be all up on the brothas holding a bottle of Beringer's?
Name: GodsChild
Comment: I want to propose this question to the masses. I promise you if you look deep into my comment you'll see how it relates, but I'd like to pose this question. Why would a man quickly and convincingly decide to boycott a company that has profited from the destruction and oppression of his culture but not chose to marry the woman he's committed himself to for several years? It's not rocket science. So you put all else before the woman you sang to the world about.... Well I'll leave that alone. As financially astute as some may consider him to be, and as real as they may deem his actions, I believe his life is a display of confusion and rhetoric, and his boycott is baseless from my perspective. Well, let me correct myself. Maybe not so much baseless, as it is long overdue. You boycott this Company, but you still exploit women, exploit alcohol consumption, idolatry, fornication, defilement of the woman, rivalry, and a host of other things. Perhaps this isn't the case with Mr. Z, but I tend to think it is. This means the efforts you've expended on boycotting is all for not and essentially cancels itself out. Hey! I could be wrong again, which I've been known to be on several ocassions. In fact, this could be the sign of a man committed to turning his life around. Not taking away from his commitment to boycott, I do however question the nature of the boycott, and to me the nature of his boycott, is proof and a prime example of the existence of God and the truth of his living word. God professes that a man that stands for nothing shall fall for anything. We should have been boycotting indirectly. We should have been boycotting this company and their product not because of the comments made, but because the destruction and pain it has caused for generations. Not because Jay-Z and other entertainers can no longer in good conscious pour this substance over a scantily clad model while smiling in a music video, but because our brothers and sisters have died because of the proliferation of these products. This is a generational curse and it needs to broken. Come on people, WAKE UP, and know that Jesus is coming back whether you like it or believe it; and everything you choose to stand for, everything you do, and everything you say in this lifetime you will be accountable for.
Name: khufu
Comment: HARRIET I am insulted about the pouring over a fine sistah if I am not there to sip and recite from the Kama SUtra...LOL
Name: khufu
Comment: vICTORNATOR lol
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Say it Godschild say it
Name: khufu
Comment: oo no Godschild didnt..he/she just raised the stakes........write on....hypocrisy and double standards......somebody ask JZ that the next time they have a chance
Name: khufu
Comment: still however in the meantime while we wait...Black celebs should not endorse in any shape, form or fashion products that are anti_Black and anti-life....products that are anti-God and anti-African...now, however, let's take that a step further,..Black folks should not support artists who do support those kinds of products and lastly....Gospel Artists should not appear on SOul Train!!!!!!!!!!!
Name: khufu
Comment: and why in the hell is SOUl TRAIN still on tv any damn way?
Name: Angel
Comment: Godchild - You lost me with the marriage thing because whose to say that Beyonce isn't the one throwing up the stop signs for marriage. The rest of your post was on point.
Name: Angel
Comment: LMBAO @ Khufu - I haven't watched Soul Train since I was like 12. LOL
Name: ShadowKnows
Comment: LOL! (at khufu and Victornator)
Name: Harriet
Comment: GodsChild- That was a very thought-provoking post.
Name: Harriet
Comment: khufu- You are being mannish!:)
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Godschild - Recently Beyonce' in an interview said she was no close to getting married. She said she is young and still has a life to live.
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: KHUFU - why shouldnt gospel artists be on soul Train??
Name: GodsChild
Comment: Angel, I really didn't want to go to deep into that part of my comment but since you posed the question, let me answer it this way. You see if ordained by God, there's no need to wait. If you gonna play house, why not committ to it. Stop going on vacations, and doing the things that married couples do without the committment. Either it's love or prolonged lust... Bare with me. Let me just say that, the bible says he who findeth a wife findeth a good thing. You see it's a man's duty to find his wife, it's the woman's job to prepare to be found so God can present her to that man. Yous see the whole process if ordained by God, period. Of course there are actions that the man and woman must make in order for the union to occur, but it is only by God's design. I know I stepped around your question, but the ultimate decision almost never falls on a woman to enter marriage. Or least it shouldn't. But the world has shown and taught us differently. Let a man committ his undying love to a woman, and there's not one woman that won't commit to that man. If beyonce knew Jay Z was committed to God, and her, I guarantee she wouldn't have a problem marrying him. She'll put her whole career on hold for the man that will committ to protect her, provide for her, and pray over her. Khufu, I know you said it jokingly, but let me ask you, what does light and darkness have in common?
Name: Angel
Comment: GodsChild - I understand why YOU would deem it necessary, but not everybody shares your beliefs. Beyonce has said she is not ready to marry, so Jay-Z cannot be the sole party responsible for that union occurring. I'm with you. I'm not playing house with anybody until I'm married, but obviously they don't share your point of view of when marriage is required.
Name: Angel
Comment: Thebaddestchick - There is just something inherently wrong with singing praises to God while someone in front of you is bumping and grinding. LOL
Name: khufu
Comment: Godchild Nothing...they have nothing in common....I was in agreement with you....
Name: Southernbelle
Comment: Wow, GodsChild you brought this arguement to a whole other level.
Name: ShadowKnows
Comment: GodsChild, you're not married, are you?
Name: VickiE
Comment: Excuse me but what is racist with the comments, he views the issue with "curiousity and serenity"? How ignorant can that bulldog-faced JayZ be? What a freakin' idiot!!!!
Name: khufu
Comment: soul train is now booty train...an extended strip show without the removal of clothes.....and they CAINT dance...and the artists are like baaaddd! and where did they get the host? anyway, Karen Clark Shears was on their last night and she was singing about Jesus and they wuz shakin they booties...even one of her background singer's movements were a bit sexual....Im sorry but most gospel music has become hip hop and has lost its sacredness...that's it....Imagine this: Cristal emdorsed by Karen Clark on soul train...wehat have we come to?
Name: Harriet
Comment: Marriage is over-rated. I don't know why Beyonce and Jay-Z aren't married but I have supposed. I would rather see them stay unmarried than subject us to some hot azz mess of a public divorce two years down the line. People think that all Black Women are so desperate for a husband- and some are. But there are a lot of Black Women who simply don't view marriage with the same rose-tinted glasses as other women before us have. To me, having a Black male in my life as a soul companion would be great- but not necessary- to a happy and fulfilling life. Sometimes when I hang up with some of my married friends I am GLAD that I am not married.
Name: khufu
Comment: I think GOD CHILD is right in this regard.....hypocrisy and double standards.....and judgement...we criticize certain actions as wrong but condone others that are just as bad or sorse....we used to hold one another to higher standards based on spiritual and moral principles......
Name: Tenacious
Comment: >GODSCHILD..Excellent post/s...you took to another level!
Name: Tenacious
Comment: Correction: You took "IT" to another level!
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Even though they were shaking in their butts. You dont know if one person was reached in that crowd. What the devil means for evil God can take it and mean it for good. People at soul train need Jesus too. And they going to get if you dont go there and tell them about it. Jesus didnt hang all day in the church. He hung out with everybody because he knew everybody needed to hear the word. If you were the only person on earth, he stll would have came down and died on the cross because his love is like that. So why shouldnt we got out in the world where the sin is and save someone by our testimony. Reaching one person still a soul is saved. It is about planting a seed Khufu.
Name: VickiE
Comment: BTW, I have never consider Cristal that great a champagne. There are a number of other champagnes that are much better. There are also some California sparkling wines that are more superior.
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Now I do feel there is decency and order. Now also if you are a gospel singer keep it classy and be an example. You dont want people to know there is a difference between the worldly life and the Christian life.
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: I mean you want people to know there is a DIFFERANCE between worldy living and Christian living and that they can see it through you.
Name: Harriet
Comment: VickiE- Don't know anything about Cristal but I totally agree that California has some great (and affordable) sparkling wines.
Name: khufu
Comment: Jesse Jackson had a love child and some screamed Bloody racism...henry lyons stole thousands from the National Baptist Convention and commited adultery and some screamed bloody racism......JZ helps perpetuate a culture that is self-nagating and self-destructive and screams bloody racism about comments made about that cultural movement as though that cultural movement is something to honor and protect...Bill Clinto gets head in the Oval office (no pun intended). lies about it and Black folks rally around him for the sake of poltical expediency without publicly denoucing his immoral acts......beware those who take the wrog side of these issues...see, Lyons was wrong, Jesse was wrong, Clinton was wrong and JZ is wrong......while the racism may or not be true, their acts and their responsibility is the larger issue that GODSCHILD raises in his/her posts....
Name: Angel
Comment: khufu - It's only a double standard if Jay-Z thinks those other issues are wrong. We have it twisted. Folks who consider those things wrong should be boycotting Jay-Z and other hip hop artist who perpetuate that foolishness. Jay-Z is boycotting Cristal because he thinks they dissed him (since he is a prominent hip hop figure). What does that have to do with the following mentioned in Godschild's post: "exploit women, exploit alcohol consumption, idolatry, fornication, defilement of the woman, rivalry, and a host of other things"?
Name: khufu
Comment: LOL THEBADDESTCHICK youre probably a drop dead gorgeous sistah but YOURE WORDS BETRAY YOU........
Name: Angel
Comment: Thebaddestchick - Let's get real. Those artist are not there to try and save the Soul Train dancers. They are trying to sell records. LOL
Name: khufu
Comment: ANGEL I believe in an objective TRUTH..i dont believe that we set p our own truths..there is an objective RIGHTEOUSNESS....and there are objective "Wrongs" Quran says so,,,Torah says so...New Testament says so...The Gitas say so....Yoruba says so.....Akan says so...and on and on....The Husia Says so...having said that..sure we can rationalize anything....so JZ may not think something is wrong but that doesnt mean it's not...Im sorry, I have to live accorind to traditions and teachings...well try anyway....
Name: Southernbelle
Comment: khufu>I got another one for you. The congressman gets caught with the dough in the freezer and it's racism.
Name: thechocolate10
Comment: imma say this again as an event planner i buy lots of different champagnes and sparkling wine and cristal is gross. i plan galas, corporate parties not get down shake ya booty stuff. VickE you are Right. Harriet girl you aint missing nothing with Cristal. Hey I rather be sitting under a shade tree (my family is country too lol) with a glass of piper hiedenstock anyway or a $10 bottle of frienext or Prosecco or da brown juice
Name: khufu
Comment: based on that ANGEL JZ's lifestyle and his work (the material he produces "musically"..for the most part) is/are counter to life, LIGHT, righteousness and higher standards of being....whether he knows or believes it is irrelevant to God's Objective Truth and reality that exists whether we see or believe or not.....
Name: Gemami
Comment: GodsChild, (a) you are assuming Jay-Z doesn't want to marry Beyonnce and unless you are a fly on the wall you don't know why or what's keeping them from the alter and (b) his relationship has absolutely NOTHING to do with this "boycott". Your frivalous attempt to discredit Jay-Z is laughable. Question: Is Oprah also hypocritical when she says she detest the use of the n-word and doesn't like how woman are represented in rap but still "shacks" with Stedman? Please explain (1) the difference between Jay's relationship and Oprah's, (2) why either matters (or why Jay's matter and Oprah's doesn't) and (3) why Jay-Z relationship makes him a hypocrite but Oprah's doesn't...
Name: Harriet
Comment: Southernbelle- HAH!!!!!!!!!!!
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Say what you want. Everyone always think they know everything and what everyones intentions are. Honestly you dont know. You just know what you would be doing if you were put in the person situations. So what KiKi Sheard was on Soul Train.??? She is singing song about what God has done for her. I aint mad at that. And someone in the audience could have been listening and really felt that..bought her Cd...listen to another song that really touch them and now they are living a better life because God lined it up that way. Because He off the chain in a good way like that. Nothing is by chance with God. So when you see being on Soul Train as a bad thing for Gospel artists, God will take that and bring Glory to his name through. But see youll dont want to hear nothing like that because again you see negative in evrything and cant see the good of someone being saved. Im not saying that some of these gospel artists shouldnt tighten up then can. But dont discredit the whole situation, because God works in mysterious ways. So if you cant figure it out...that is ok..God doesnt want you too.
Name: khufu
Comment: SOUTHERNBELLE that's what I talking about...there are many mnore I cant remember...see, I realized some time ago, we are being judged by those instances and situations...see, I love AFrican people but if your azz is wrong I aint supporting your %*$.....Im gonna tell you you wrong as %*$!...If you selling drugs in the hood and you a brother or sistah, Im gonna call the redneck sherriff on yo' azz
Name: khufu
Comment: GEMAMI yep as much as I love Oprah she wrong too! How can you not see that? If you wrong you wrong....everybody says that sheet about Bill Cosby, right? It is said that the truth is a double edge sword....
Name: Harriet
Comment: thechocolate10- Girl I am very country and extremely Southern. I would much rather sit in a field and attend a blues festival while I swatted flies and drank beer than at a stuffy event where there's Cristal and a room full of tight %*$es. I would much prefer a party in which Sir Charles is featured instead of some ritzy event with waiters and a live band playing elevator music. I had a job once which required that I attend such dreadfully boring affairs. I remember thinking, "these folks don't know shyt about partying."
Name: khufu
Comment: thebadestchick...what makes you the baddest? Im curious? also, what do you understand about "Sacredness" and "Holiness"?
Name: thebaddestchick
Comment: Khufu..holla at me later..im getting off work. We can have a nice discussion about that questions you just asked. Email me: blackangel_9_8@hotmail.com
Name: Southernbelle
Comment: Harriet>I'm so proud of your last post (sniff, sniff). You, me and Brittany, we're all country LOL.
Name: Harriet
Comment: Southernbelle- Absolutely!
Name: bigheadbull2
Comment: Shaking your rumpshaker for the Lord will never be mistaken for good you see that is the trick of the ememy and the bible says that because they would not recieve the truth he would let them believe a lie. Bow now or bow later.
Name: kbig
Comment: It's West Coast time where I'm at- so I'm late to this discussion but when I heard this on Friday I just wanted to turn my computer off. Who cares? Didn't we go through this when all the brothers were hypin' Timberland shoes and then Timberland essentially said we weren't their market. One person called these hypin' rappers 'label hos' --I call them label queens. No man needs to be giving shout-outs to labels or brands, talking about Prada and shixx, like Santa Claus came to they house. It started getting out of control with P.Dittley back in the late 90s, like he was the first black man to put Carmex on his lips and wear cufflinks. And we keep name-checking these labels/brands who don't give a fizuck about US. I think Jay-Z is jumping the shark. He's a CEO who has his (open-toed) sandals in a twist about some drank that most of us could give a hoot about. I just could care less and if this is the extent of Jay Z's problems, he's delusional. It's not a priority for anyone but him. I just don't see this being a priority for anybody. He's out of touch. Can I get a 'fu** you'........
Name: Angel
Comment: I hear what you are saying, but what does that have to do with the fact that Jay Z is boycotting Cristal and not other issues?!? That goes back to someone's own personal truth and beliefs. If he doesn't think those issues are wrong, that's all that matters to HIM. It doesn't matter what anybody else's religion states. It is the responsibility of those who do consider it wrong to let their position be known by not buying anything related to his ventures. An objective truth has to be enforced by a community. You can't rely on each individual to embrace it.
Name: Angel
Comment: Thebaddestchick - Relax. You don't know her intentions either, so what's your point? You are speculating just like I am. Just like someone could see her on Soul Train and get closer to God, I'm sure that it might have the opposite effect on those struggling with their faith or those pessimistic about the relevance of Christianity and the hypocrisy of a lot of its leadership. I could clearly see more people seeing her on Soul Train and saying "Ain't that a b!tch!!! This chick is standing there singing gospel while folks are rumpshaking, bumping and grinding. WTF?!? Is she that desperate to sell a dayum record. Christians are such hypocrits!!" To me, it does more harm than good. JMO
Name: GodsChild
Comment: Shadowknows, been married 7 years to a beautiful black queen who has blessed me with two wonderful children. No1 marriage isn't easy, but I tell you what, having God all up in my mix and being equally yoked spiritually, emotionally, and financially, makes it a lot easier than those who don't. Believe that!!!! Gemami, I don't believe I'm assuming, but what I have done is exercised my deductive and analytical reasoning skills to come to the conclusions that I have preented. You can agree or disagree, you have that free will. Not once did I asume jay Z didn't want to marry beyonce, but what i do know is that it doesn't take a man, or let me rephrase that... It shouldn't take a man 4-5 years to determine if he wants to marry a woman. Furthermore, you state that his ability to committ has nothing to do with his boycott. I couldn't disgaree with you more. It's not an apples to apples comparison, but believe me they are very relational. I don't believe I presneted in in that matter, but did pose it as a thought provoking idea to stimulate the grey mattter. Now, I'm not sure why you brought Oprah into the convo, but since ya did, I don't have a problem with addressing her being wrong as well. That is if she's living that way. Because at the end of the day when it's all said and done, Oprah has to answer to God just as we all do. You can run now, but just know that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess when it's all said and done.
Name: Beezyuu
Comment: Using the words "curiosity and serenity" does not mean racism. I think Jay-Z and other rappers make up their own definition of racism which show's their lack of education. These guys have money but no intellect, and they call themselves businessmen.
Name: kbig
Comment: It's just not a real-world problem that most people, Black or otherwise. Who has the time to boycott Cristal. Drink it because you like it, not because Jay-Z is fond of the shi*. I just don't get how these rappers don't see the disses a mile away when it comes to this. Jay-Z is in a position of ffiscal and corporate power, but I don't get worked up when former coke-slangers can't get props from a White corporation. I have a lot of rappers in my collection, but these brothas have it twisted sometimes complaining about Oprah and Cristal and shi*. What 'regular' black men get the advantages they do, in court or anything else. DMX has so many driving arrests, like a little kid on Ritalin who can't stop crahsing cars. Mothafu**ah, you know you c'ain't drive but there's DMX impersonating a sherrif and shi*. And ain't he free? Try being Tyrone from 23rd St. and try that. You'd be under the jail. Ice Cube is cool, but he's got a fictional view of women. Same with Ludacris, even if he is funny and the White peeps like him. 50-Cent made a minstrel movie about a kid who loses his mother and starts the criminal life to have better shoes. One of his songs on that soundtrack has a rap all about his rival being "a window shopper" like that's the key to life. It's some bunk shi* and they all need to stop complaining. Why do we care what he drinks? I'm just tired of these mothafuc*ahs complaining while Black men in the real world and not insulated by millions of dollars from the derision of whites have to hustle every day to bring home some bank. The day you go to a house party and get pissy because there's no Cristal there is the day you need to take your as* right back home. Like my elders used to say: 'When you have money and class, it shows. People who really do have money or class never brag about it." It's true. Jay-Z need never work again if he doesn't want to. Drink some Tanqueray and shut the hellz up.
Name: caramelpoetry
Comment: Props to you Kbig, in fact I think you hit the nail on the head. I have nothing further to say except that B might not want to marry JZ because she is dating him and might be looking for something better down the line. She might like him for one thing only - sex and that's all.Some men are not the marrying kind.
Name: sweetpea
Comment: When I read this guy's statement, I detected some racial undertones to it. Being an African-American consumer I try to be careful where I spend my money. I don't spend my time or money at a business if I feel the establisment is not treating me fairly. I don't care if the owners are red, blue or purple. As African-Americans we should be more conscious on where we spend our money. We spend more money than any other group on the planet and we have more power than we know as consumers to change things. If only we would spend it where it counts, like economic growth and stop being just consumers. I applaud J-Zay for making a stand and hopefully this will send a message to all be careful where you spend your money.
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